Top 21 Magnificent Forts of Maharashtra You Must Visit

Maharashtra state is dotted with number of magnificent forts,nested in the Western Ghats or the Sahyadri Mountain range. The magnificent and picturesque hill forts of Maharashtra includes Harishchandragad Fort, Rajgad Fort, Nimgiri fort,Lingana fort, Karnala Fort, Prabalgad Fort and Pratapgad Fort.

Chatrapati Shivaji had 300 forts including the 5 sea forts, known for its picturesque surroundings and pleasant climate, which are known as one of the best places for Trekking in Maharashtra.

Raigad Fort

Raigad hill fort is 820 metres tall fort, located in the Sahyadri mountain range in the Mahad, Raigad district of Maharashtra. The Maratha king Shivaji made the fort his capital and the fort has a famous wall called Hirakani Buruj and the imposing Maha Darwaja. Image Source:autowale

Daulatabad Fort

Devagiri Daulatabad fort is located 16 kilometers northwest of Aurangabad and considered to be one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and a developing tourist spot. Fort of Daulatabad contains several notable monuments such as Chand Minar,Chini Mahal and Aurangabad Ellora group of caves in midway to fort.

Pratapgad Fort

Pratapgad Fort also known as Valour Fort in Mahabaleshwar is a very important site,located in Satara district. The fort can be divided into the lower fort and upper fort, now a popular tourist destination near Mahabaleshwar hill station. प्रतापगडाचे हे विहंगम दृश्य! -smartsbusinessonline

Murud Janjira

Murud-Janjira Fort is situated on an oval-shaped rock off the Arabian Sea coast near the port town of Murud. The fort is still in good shape and has secret gates to hide and escape,fort structure is unique and very strong.

Sinhagad Fort

Sinhagad fortress is located at the centre of a string of other forts such as Rajgad, Purandar and Torna, roughly 30 kilometres southwest of the city of Pune. This fort has had quite a long history,was strategically built to provide natural protection, Its one of the most popular place to visit during the monsoon in weekend near Pune.

Panhala Fort

The home of serpents,Panhala fort is about 19kms north-west of Kolhapur and one of the largest and most important fort of the Deccan. Panhala Fort lies on the Sahyadri Mountain Range rising more than 1,312 ft above its surrounding plain. Image Source:kolhapurtourism

Rajmachi Fort

Rajmachi is a small village in the rugged mountains of Sahyadri and The fortification at Rajmachi consists of two forts, Shrivardhan fort and Manaranjan Fort. Rajmachi Fort is a popular trekking destination and a very famous fort located near two famous hills of Maharashtra.

Tikona Fort

Tikona Fort near Lonavala is the dominant hill fort in Maval at 3500 ft high is a pyramidal in shape and the name Tikona means triangle. The fort is a popular trekking destination around Pune and Mumbai,noted for the large doors,Satvahan caves and Trimbakeshwar Mahadev temple.

Vasota Fort

Vasota fort located near Bamnoli in Satara and offers spectacular view of Nageshwar peak and Shivsagar lake created by Koyna backwaters. The road to Vasota fort passes through Kas pathar or Valley of flowers of maharashtra and through the thick jungle.

Tung Fort

Tung Fort is a hill fort in Pune, surrounded by water on three sides because of Pawna dam. Tung Fort is a prominent landmark and offers magnificent view of near by Lohagad, Visapur, Tikona and Korigad forts.

Shivneri Fort

Shivneri Fort is the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and now it has been declared as a protected monument. The hill fort is a well known historical military fortification,located close to Junnar in Maharashtra.

Torna Fort

Torna Fort also known as Prachandagad is one of the large fort located in Pune district. The hill fort of Torna is amongst the tallest forts near Pune and was the first fort captured by Shivaji Maharaj.

Korigad Fort

Korigad Fort also called Koraigad is located about 20 km away from Lonavla,close to village Peth Shahpur. Along with the forts of Lohagad, Visapur, Tung and Tikona, Korigad fort was incorporated into his kingdom by Chhatrapati Shivaji.

Sindhudurg Fort

Sindhudurg Fort is one of the top 5 sea forts of Maharashtra,lies on the shore of Malvan town of Sindhudurg District in the Konkan region. The fortress was constructed by Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, since the fort is abandonment and ranked one of the top abandonment place in India.

Harishchandragad Fort

Harishchandragad is a beautiful hill fort in the Ahmednagar region and one of the most popular trekking destination in Maharashtra. The fort is quite ancient and history is linked with Malshej Ghat, Fascinating Spots around Harishchandragad fort are Kedareshwar Cave,Konkan cliff and Taramati point.

Lohagad Fort

The twin forts of Lohagad and Visapur are part of the Lohagad-Visapur fortification,located on higher elevation near Visapur village in the Western Ghats. The hill forts was under the Maratha empire for the majority of time,Nearby attractions includes Bhaja Caves, Karla Caves,Lonavala hill Station and Aamby Valley City.

Visapur Fort

Visapur Fort also called Visapoor Fort is a part of the Lohagad-Visapur fortification,located near Visapur village. The Fort of Visapur is larger and also higher than Lohgarh fort at an elevation of 1084 meters above sea level.

Purandar Fort

Purandar Fort is about 40kms south-east of Pune near the Saswad village,There are twin forts Purandar and Vajragad. The fort is now a favorite destination for paragliders and trekkers and has a National Cadet Corps Academy.

Suvarnadurg Fort

Suvarnadurg also known as Golden Fort is situated close to a natural harbour famous for fishing and its marketing near Harnai in Konkan. The fort also includes another land fort located on a small island in the Arabian Sea.

Prabalgad Fort

Prabalgad Fort is also known as Kalavantin Durg,located between Matheran and Panvel and known as one of the most beautiful abandoned places in India. The fort complex contains a temple of Lord Ganesh and some stone ruins along with sister fort Irshalgad.

Vijaydurg Fort

The oldest fort on the Sindhudurg coast,Vijayadurg Fort  is one of the strongest marine forts in Maharashtra, Built on a hill on the mouth of Vaghotan River. Vijaydurg Fort is a protected monument and one of the top 5 marine forts in Maharashtra.